Resilient to her core, PV Sindhu shows us that with willpower, hard work and simply putting your heart into something, anything is possible.
By Amber Dias
Pusarla Venkata or PV Sindhu has dazzled and amazed with her skill on the badminton court. The force behind some historic moments for Indian badminton, she has always put her best foot forward, inspiring a nation and capturing hearts worldwide.
The Champion
Sindhu first made headlines in 2013 as the first Indian woman to win a medal (bronze) at the Badminton World Championships. In 2016, she etched her name in the annals of Indian sports history by clinching a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, following an intense final match against Spain’s Carolina Marin. Her electrifying performance throughout the competition brought unprecedented attention to Indian badminton.
Sindhu’s consistent performances at the international level continued with victory in the India Open Series – a silver, and at the World Championships among others. In 2018 she won the BWF World Tour Finals – becoming the first Indian to do so. In 2019 she won the gold medal at the World Championships, a historic victory that made her the first Indian to become a world champion in badminton. Her second Olympic appearance would follow in Tokyo 2020, where she secured her second consecutive Olympic medal – a bronze this time. And these are but a few of her accomplishments.
A testament to her hard work and determination, she has been bestowed with several honours including the Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
Bouncing Back
With career highs there have also been some lows. Sindhu has struggled with setbacks and injuries. 2023 was lined with early exits in the first round of seven tournaments and her ranking plummeted to No. 15. However, she is not one to sit back and roll with the punches; she hits back. Talking about the struggle in an interview, she revealed, “When I was winning everything, it was almost perfect. You’re happy, you come back and you want to win more.
But there are days also when you lose, you are down… It was important for me to have that patience and keep trying harder and coming back stronger. I know it is not easy, but it’s also important that mentally you are strong enough to face these things. Because with rhythm, sometimes when you’re not up there, you might feel upset, or that nothing is working out. You keep trying but still you keep losing. That doesn’t mean you should stop trying, rather you should keep trying again and again until it comes.”
Off The Court
PV Sindhu’s influence extends far beyond her victories on the badminton court. She has become a symbol of perseverance, breaking barriers, and challenging stereotypes. Her success has inspired a new generation of badminton players and has led to increased investment and interest in the sport across India. Known for her humility, sportsmanship and commitment to giving back, she actively participates in various initiatives promoting sports and fitness among youth, particularly girls, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
